Woolworths at Murray Bridge Green will close in May 2018

Murray Bridge supermarket will close

Woolworths at Murray Bridge Green has been collecting non-perishable food and toys for the local arms of three charities - the Salvation Army, AC Care and St Vincent de Paul. The Christmas tree appeal will continue until this Friday.

The owners of Murray Bridge Green, Leedwell Property, will now be under pressure to find a new anchor tenant for the northern half of the centre, where six of 16 stores are currently vacant.

Eateries, a Telstra shop and a sports store have all departed in recent years.

But Leedwell's John Savva said the certainty Woolworths' announcement had given was actually comforting.

"It has been very difficult with Woolworths because everyone hasn't known what the future will be, so no-one was really prepared to give a commitment (to a lease)," he said.

"We've been ... waiting for an outcome over the last couple of years.

"Now we know what we're doing."

He said discussions had already taken place with alternative tenants for the space, including supermarkets and "other possibilities", and that he believed there was enough demand for the abundant retail space available.

"We believe in the location,” he said.

“It's a central position in Murray Bridge that has a lot of exposure.”

Each of the city's other shopping centres also features a number of empty shops.